Purists may hope for a better balance between bat and ball compared to previous slugfests, and the big grounds and long boundaries may offer some relief for bowlers while putting a premium on fielding.
While Agar is some way short of all-rounder status, Finch said the 26-year-old was working hard to get there.
'...VVS Laxman is going to Zimbabwe but new coach will join from Sri Lanka series'
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh can beat each other on their day
Styris did not have any doubt over Pandya's talent but the Kiwi wanted him to infuse more consistency into his performances.
Fans can expect a wide open tournament in the absence of an overwhelming favourite in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.
'...there is every possibility that Shreyas will travel for the three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka. The last ODI that India played was in South Africa and he scored a half-century (52). He had 500 plus runs (530) in the World Cup and averages just around 50. Can you drop him?'
India's One-day skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni reckons the current Indian squad is very balanced' ahead of the three-match series against Sri Lanka and insisted that maintaining fitness will be a crucial factor for his side during next month's World Twenty20.
The Indian squads for the upcoming Asia Cup T20 tournament in Bangladesh and the subsequent International Cricket Council World Twenty20 championship in India are to be chosen on February 5 at Delhi by the national selection panel headed by Sandeep Patil.
Yuvraj Singh is back in training after recuperating from a rare germ cell cancer and selection committee chairman Kris Srikkanth has said he wants the attacking left-handed batsman back in the side for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
A contract row threatened West Indies' participation in the upcoming World T20 in India with the head of the region's cricket board saying the players will be thrown off the squad for the big-ticket event if they do not agree to the financial terms by Sunday's deadline.
Emerging stars like Umran Malik and Mohsin Khan could be rewarded for their superb performances in IPL 2022, while old-horses Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik are likely to return to the Indian team for the T20I series against South Africa next month.
Wade opted out of Australia's optional indoor session on Thursday afternoon.
According to sources aware of developments in the Board, a few players are contemplating if they should travel to New Zealand.
Kane Williamson will opt out of a handful of internationals in January to take up a contract in South Africa's Twenty20 league.
Test and ODI captain Misbah-ul Haq was dropped from Pakistan's provisional 30-man squad for September's World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, but the PCB recalled Kamran Akmal after the wicketkeeper-batsman was cleared of suspicions of spot-fixing.
Sanju Samson will feel hard done by after being left out and so will Mohammed Siraj.
With stars Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan sidelined, it will be a test of character for the Salman Agha-led Pakistan side.
The former India spinner has also backed the underperforming left-arm Chinaman bowler to make the cut for the T20 World Cup squad.
Virat Kohli too has stated that choosing between Dhawan and Rahul will be a tough call
It is not only Dhoni's batting, but also his regular inputs during a game to bowlers and fielders that should work in the veteran's favour when it comes to the 2019 World Cup.
South Africa won their T20 series against world champions West Indies and Ireland, and will once again be captained by Temba Bavuma in both formats.
A reinvigorated India will look to pocket their second series win in as many weeks and build on the gains made from a drastic change in their batting approach in the second T20 International against Sri Lanka in Dharamsala on Saturday.
India's Head Coach Gautam Gambhir has seen both ends of the spectrum with high of Champions Trophy and low of six Test losses and he'll have tough choices to make once the new two-year cycle comes around with the new season.
Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram on Sunday said the upcoming Asia Cup will test readiness of subcontinental bowlers for 50-overs cricket ahead of the ODI World Cup, but refused to pick any favourites for the tournament.
From staying under the radar in the lead-up to the World Cup to becoming high-flyers, South Africa have started playing to potential and are firm favourites against the Dutch.
"The ebbs and flows of the game made it such a good one for the spectators. It was just unfortunate we came out on the other side of it."
Former captain Virat Kohli has asked to be rested from the entire limited overs series against the West Indies next month, including the five T20Is, BCCI sources said.
Debutants Afghanistan will aim to continue their impressive rise in white-ball cricket, while South Africa will once again attempt to shed the 'chokers' tag when the two sides kick-off their Champions Trophy campaign in Karachi on Friday.
Former India batsman Robin Uthappa highlighted the significance of an India-Pakistan clash during a World Cup.
West Indies have dropped batsman Lendl Simmons from their Twenty20 World Cup squad owing to a back injury, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said on Saturday. "The 31-year-old right-handed top-order batsman will remain in Trinidad to continue his rehabilitation," the WICB said. "A replacement player will be named in the coming days," it said in a statement. Simmons, who has played 34 T20Is with a top score of 77, joins all-rounder Kieron Pollard on the sidelines after a knee injury forced him to decline signing a player contract for the tournament in India. Spinner Sunil Narine, who is still working to fix his illegal bowling action, and Darren Bravo, who has opted to focus on the longer formats of cricket, withdrew from the West Indies squad last month.
'KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer have not played matches. Playing in a big game like Asia Cup or World Cup is totally different, there is a lot going on. Your level of fitness has to be more than 100%. I hope they are fit.'
Bangar delved into the critical consideration of KL Rahul's involvement as a wicketkeeper-batsman and how this strategic decision aligns with India's quest for balance
Chris Gayle was not at his brutal best in the IPL but Andre Russell's butchering of the bowlers has forced the teams to take note of what could await them at the World Cup.
With the second season of WPL around the corner, the Gujarat Giants announced that Australian batter Beth Mooney will captain the team and Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana will be her deputy.
'I'm hoping that he will not have an injury effect on his bowling.'
A veterans' cricket match involving India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends in London on Sunday has been cancelled after Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, refused to be a part of it citing the Pahalgam terror attack in April.
The best performance (barring Afghanistan game) was against Sri Lanka when 78 runs came off those nine overs.
India coach Rahul Dravid hopes to have his full-strength squad in time for the World Cup starting next week.
There have been 24 occasions on which 400 has been passed in ODI cricket and 15 of those have come since the 2011 World Cup.
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